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Nigeria: London Museum Returns Looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
Premium Times, 29 November 2022
The Horniman Museum houses a collection of 72 treasured items that were taken by force from Benin City in 1897. Read more »
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Africa: 'Restitution' of Looted African Art Just Continues Colonial Policies - Much More Is At Stake
The Conversation Africa, 13 October 2022
The violence of the past is far from over. But it is disguised in many ways, made invisible and normalised. What started with the Spanish, Portuguese or the Ottoman empires… Read more »
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Nigeria: UK Museum Agrees to Return Looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
DW, 7 August 2022
A museum in Britain agreed Sunday to return a collection of Benin Bronzes looted in 1897 to Nigeria. Read more »
London Museum Returns Looted Benin Artefacts to Nigeria
The Horniman Museum in London housed a collection of 72 treasured items that were taken from Benin City in 1897, officially handed over ownership of the artefacts to the Nigerian government.
The first six objects that were returned, include two Benin bronze plaques from the royal palace which were handed over to Nigerian officials at a ceremony marking the transfer of ownership of the looted items.
The move is the first time a UK government-funded institution has agreed to hand back treasures looted by British forces. Two other Benin bronzes - a cockerel sculpture held by Jesus College, Cambridge, and the head of an oba (ruler) held by Aberdeen University - have also been returned by Britain.
The return of artefacts that were looted in the colonial era has become an increasingly pressing issue for western nations. Nigeria is set to receive more artifacts from Netherlands, and Germany. In October 2022, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art transferred ownership of 29 Benin bronzes to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria.
Nigeria is building a museum in Benin city to house the returned artefacts.
InFocus
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The U.S. has been commended by Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for the repatriation of 31 Benin bronzes - part of thousands of artefacts that ... Read more »
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London's Horniman Museum has said that 72 artifacts would be handed over to the Nigerian government. Among them are 12 brass plaques, known as Benin Bronzes, a brass ... Read more »
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Priceless artifacts taken from African nations during Germany's colonial period will be permanently returned. After a century of restitution claims, Germany is transferring o Read more »
This incredible panel is one of the Benin bronzes looted from the palace of the Oba (file photo).
